Nonrefillable bottle



F. R. LUECK NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE June 13, 1944.

Filed Aug. 2, 1940 Hun/c R.L1ze ck INVENTQR.

rnotzaiected by contact with metal.

Patented June 13, 1944 UNITED STATE-s PATENT EoFFici-z 2,351,138 f NoNmiFlLnAfBLn BOTTLE Frank amueck, Losangeles, Calif. AApplication August 2, 1940,;Serial No.1352g037 :This inventionrelates to non-rellable bottles.

A' functionally satisfactory non-rellable bottle isdisclosed-in my copending application, Serial No. l 126,318, filed` February 18, '1937,:now' Patent No. 2,230,117, dated'January28,l1941. In the de- 4vicetherein disclosed, however,` the parts which `render the `bottle non-rellable are largely of metal so that the uses to which it may beapplied arethosein which thecontents of thebottleare l0 :.One'objectof `the, present invention isto providea simple, inexpensivayethighly effective --inon-rellable attachment for bottlesand the like `iniwhich*` all parts likely to come in contact-With the contents ofthe bottle are so constructed and arranged as to make practicable theuse for all su'ch parts of ceramics, glassfcork, or other strictly inert materials.

Another object is to provide a 4substantially frictionless valve guide in a non-rellable bottle. Ithas been; found that under some conditions of use; a partial vacuum commonly develops in a bottle which seriously interferes 1 with proper pouring. This. invention has for another object theY `provision of avacuum eliminator for -non-re- :25 iillableV bottles which will not impair the non-reflllable feature thereof.

Other objects and advantages willv appear, expressedfor implied, from the following descriptionf of a non-refillable bottle constructed in vacian `cordance with the present invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

.Figure 1v is an enlargedA axial sectional viewof .a non-rellable attachment embodying the pres- Vent, inventionand shown applied to a conventiong5 al bottle iny horizontal position.

Fig. V2 isasimilar view of bottlelandf-attachment tilted beyond a horizontal position into position for pouring.

Fig is .atransverse sectional view through vthe lower or inner portion of the attachment. l

. Fig. 4 is a view similar `to that of Fig.-h 1 of .another embodiment of the invention.

v,The non-rellable attachment shown in Figs. 1, 2, and vcomprises a two-.part substantially cylindrical housing including aninner orlowercup- 'like part IIl,.positionedwithin the neck 4of a con-.- ventional bottle II, and having a thickened rim I2 supported by the bottle mouth I3 with; an appropriate asealingand .cushioning`v gasket I4 -interiso posed therebetween. f .The-outer orupper part-ofthe *housing is :in the .formof an inverted cup-likev member I5f-,having a `tln'clscenedrim I6 recessed to receive and engage .the rim4 I2 of the memberv I0. The rim- I6 ,is ex- 55 .over and beneath tended, as at I1, so as .toseat uponv and` be sealed by the gasket I4.

The rim i6 of the member I5 isl also shaped to providea supporting shoulder I8-for1a-similar gasket I94 which-provides `a'cushionedl` seat and seal for? the cylindrical .base-Zliofan appropriate lpouring spout 2 I which ispreferably tapered and `angularlydisposed with respectA to the axis of the ,bottle toW facilitate-pouring and .to avoid'objectionable after drip, as will'be later explained.

The'parts I0 and I5 of'the'housing, as well as 'theV spout 2I -areof porcelain -or other; suitable chemically inert material. ,They areipermanent- `ly attached tothe bottle by appropriate means,

such as a substantially cylindricalmetallic shell 2 2, thegupper or outer end: offwhich Iisl spun over .an-external rshoulder 23--on the` base 2D of i the and the lower or innerend-of-.which is spun the lip I3 of the bottle. Itwll yof'course be understoodwthat during-application spout -of thev retainer,A shell 22,L both. gaskets I 4 and I 9 are compressedbetween thespoutl-ZI and bottle, and that .-thi-sfcompression is maintained by the applied shell-'so as to effect a good seal.

The -bottom `of the inner housing member- -II'I is suitably ported so as to-admit flowfromthe -bot- .tle thereinto. In this instance a concentricgroup ,of four ports 24 are provided,`arranged about a central guide hole 25 shaped to loosely receive the end of aguide pin 426 carried -byl acooperating cylindrical valve- 21.

The valvey 2I= is buoyantand in this instance is -off cork. Itnis guidedatrone end bythe pin26,

.working loosely `in the. hole .25.. and `at the other .end by va thin.v polygonal. plate 28 which loosely .spans the interior of the housingmember IIJ with -its corners loosely engaging: the vinternalsurfaces Aof the ylatter. .The .plate 28 and pin 26 are integral .and preferably ,formed ofceramicmaterial, the ,pin 26.,projectingthrough the center of the corkand. serving vtofsecuretthe. .plate 28 tothe cork 21. K

A three point support and guide is thus providged-,for the valve so than sliding friction is reduced to a, mini-mum. "IT-hat -is to` say, all tilted positions of the bottie, the upper or'outer--end of the .-'valve is supported by light contactpf two corners -offtheplate- 28 .with the interior-fof thev housing member-.10; while the upper or inner-end ofthe `valve 4issupporteduby light contact `of the pin 2li-within 4the hole 25.

-Thevalve 2'I,-'is,normally retained Vin the closed :positionshowninFig; l by an appropriate spherical -weight 29 rockablysupported within the upperfor-'outerhousing .member I5. In this instance insures its being lifted the weight is in the form of a glass marble 29 rockably perched upon an appropriate fulcrum 30 and bearing against the smooth exposed face of the plate 28. The fulcrum shown comprises a concentric circular rib 30 lprojecting inwardly 5 or downwardly from the outer or upper end of the housing member I 5, so that in the horizontal position of the bottle the ball 29 is actually suspended by and between the rib 30 and the valve and maintainsan; axialclosing pressure against 10 i downwardly inclined pouring position of Fig. 2,

the ball 29 will rock upon the fulcrum 30 in a direction away from the valve 21, thereby permitting the valve to assume the open position shown and thereby permit passage of liquid from the bottle throughA the ports 24. I 1

A multiplicity of small radial perforations 3| in the wall of the upper housing'member |5 permits liquid entering the housing through the ports 24 to freely discharge from the housing to and through the spout 2|. It will be noted that these discharge perforations 3|v aredisposedv at the Vupper extremeV limit of the upper housing portion 5 so as to insurev free ldischarge of all the liquid in the housing when -the bottle is tilted beyond horizontal position.' It will also be noted that these perforations 3| are Vof rather small diameter, but that'they are relatively long, since the housing wall 'is' relatively thick, and that they are eiectively covered at one end by the adjacent rib 30 and at theother end bythe adjacent base ofthe spout,-'thus rendering the device substantially tamperproof,` n f It will also be noted that with the spout 2| angularly disposed, as shown,y it provides a continuouslydownward course of ow'for' the liquid that dischargesthrough the perforations 3| when the bottle is tiltedV into pouring position, so that all liquid entering*` the spout promptly discharges from thespfo'ut,Y thereby avoiding'any trapping of liquid within the spout and consequently eliminating after drip as the bottle is returned to uprighi-position after pouring. The ball 29 also limitsv the extent of; opening of the valve so as to limit the rate of discharge from the bottle even when the bottle is completely inverted. s i,

Since the valve 21 is forcibly retained in closed position bythe lball 29 in all angular positions of the bottle between the uprightposition and the pouringA position, the bottle cannot 'be relled in any of 'suche positions; and in allvpositions of the bottle between the pouring position and afull inverted position the buoyant nature of the valve the buoyant ,action of any liquid enteringl the housing from an external source. 'Ihe device is thus proofY against refilling in all positions ofthe bottle.

vIt has' been' 'found that" under Seite eoeditions ofi use the light weightvalve 21 tends tohstick to its seat Aand refuses to openwhenv the bottle vis into closing position by tilted into pouring position'. This I have found l to be the result 'of a causes. for eliminating such vacuum and to accomplish that purpose without impairing the non-rellable character of the device; In the device shown in Figs.' 1 and'2 thisfis accomplished byproviding partial vacuum within the bottle set up therein'asl result of Avarious natural s In the device shown, provision is made a relatively long -narrowbleed duct 32 within the 75 fwithin a guide hole 25' side wall of the lower housing portion l0 which forms a by-pass between the interior of the bottle and the interior of the housing. Air is thus permitted to leak into the bottle through the duct 32 to prevent building up of a vacuum therein, although the length and narrowness of the duct is such as to prevent any material ow of liquid therethrough.

To prevent passage of any liquid therethrough, a vshort length of thread 33 is shown extending through the duct 32 and provided 'with a knot 34 at both ends or at least at its upper end. It has been found that the thread does not seriously duct, but does prevent natural ow of liquid `therethrough and that, if it be attempted to force liquid therethrough, the thread will slip through the duct until its knotted end seats upon the end of the duct and elfectively closes the same.

The duct 32 is preferably arranged at that side .ofjthe housing member I0 opposite that side toward which the spout 2| isinclined, so that it isdispose'd above the liquid in the housing dur.- ingthe pouring operationv and so that it will not become clogged by liquid `entering the outer end thereol The rim |2v of the housing member I0 is preferably recessed, as at 35, to accommodate the knot 34 at the outer end of vthe thread.-

The non-refillable attachment shown in Fig. 4 is similar in many respects to Athat hereinabove ldescribed in that it includes the same arrangement ofhousing members I9' and |5, spout member' 2|', glass ball 29', and valve 21. Inthis instance, however, the valve 21 is somewhat longer or thicker and the housing member I0' isrcorrespondingly deeper.

Thelvalve 21' also carries 'a thin vsquare guide plate 28 of ceramic material, whose corners co- `actwiththe interior of the member 'I0' in the manner above described. The plate'28 however is lpressed against the end face of the valve 2,1' rand is' equipped'with projecting corner lugs 36 which b'earf'fricti'onally against Ithe sides of the valve 21 to retain the plate thereon. A The vvalvein this instance is also additionally guided by a projecting pin 26' disposed centrally of and within the valve and loosely engaged within the bottom of the In this instance the guide pin 26- is in the formof a capillary tube and additionally performs" the same function as the bleed duct 32 in the device of Figpl in preventing the formationl of a vacuum within the bottle; It will be noted that the tube 2|V is open lat its inner end to the interior of the bottle and at its outer end `to a transverse slot v3'.' formed housing member |0 'inthe end face of the Valve 21 beneath the plate `28. Like the device of Fig. l, the tube 26 contains a thread 33 extending therethrough and 'knotted at both ends, the thread serving to permit admission of air through the tube to the in- 'terior of theubottle and functioning to prevent flow of liquidthrough the tube.

Various'changes may be made in either em- 'bodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically'described without departing from or sacri- 'cing the `advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims'.

I claim: 1. An attachment for rendering bottles nonrellable, said attachment comprising a ported housing for application toa bottle outlet, a buoy- 'a'nt valve moveable in said housing for controlling the flowofv-uid through said outlet, axially spaced means at opposite ends of said valve havend to ing a minimum area of contact with said housing for supporting and centering the same within said housing and spaced from the side walls of the latter to thereby permit free flow therebetween, and means within said housing for maintaining a closing pressure against said valve except when said bottle is inclined downwardly into or below a predetermined downwardly inclined pouring position.

2. An attachment for rendering bottles nonrefillable, said attachment comprising a ported housing for attachment to a bottle outlet, said housing having a ported end member, a buoyant valve member moveable in said housing for controlling iiow of fluid through said outlet, a formation associated with one of said members and coacting with a corresponding formation associated with the other of said members for centering said valve member, additional means axially spaced from said formation and associated with the opposite end of said Valve member and coacting with the sides of said housing to additionally center said valve member, and means for normally maintaining a closing pressure against said valve member automatically releasable upon tilting said bottle downwardly into a predetermined downwardly inclined angular position appropriate for pouring.

3. An attachment for rendering bottles nonrellable, said attachment comprising a housing for attachment to a bottle outlet and having a ported end, a buoyant valve moveable in said housing and coacting with said ported end to control flow of fluid through said outlet, a pin projecting axially from one end of said valve and loosely guided in said ported end for` centering said valve, additional guide means for the opposite end of said valve, and means for normally maintaining a closing pressure on said valve automatically releasable upon tilting said bottle downwardly into a predetermined angular position appropriate for pouring.

4. An attachment for rendering bottles nonreflllable, said attachment comprising a housing for attachment to a bottle outlet and having a ported end, means including a Valve moveable in said housing and cooperating with said ported control fluid ow through said outlet, a

capillary tube projecting from said valve through said ported end for admitting atmospheric pressure to said bottle when said valve is seated, and means in said ported end coacting with said tube to guide and center said valve.

5. In a bottle the combination of means for rendering the bottle non-refillable and operable to discharge the contents thereof when the bottle is inclined into a downwardly inclined pouring position, means including a capillary duct for admitting atmospheric pressure to the bottle, and a liquid absorbent element extending longitudinally of and within said duct for preventing passage of liquid therethrough.

6. In a bottle the combination of means for i rendering the bottle non-rellable and operable to discharge the contents thereof, means including a long narrow duct for admitting atmospheric pressure to the bottle, and a flexible element in said duct, said element having a knotted end and lengthwise movable to position said knotted end against the end of said duct for preventing passage of liquid therethrough.

7. In a non-refillable bottle the combination of a housing for attachment to the bottle outlet, means moveable within said housing for controlling liquid flow through said outlet, a discharge spout arranged eccentrically of said housing, and a long narrow duct in the wall of said housing at the side thereof opposite to said spout and communicating with the interior of the bottle to admit atmospheric pressure thereto, said duct being effective to resist passage of liquid therethrough.

8. In a bottle the combination of a housing at the bottle outlet, said housing having a ported inner portion, a valve moveable within said housing to control liquid flow through said outlet, a cover portion of said housing overlying said inner portion and said moveable valve to thereby shield the same against access, a plurality of orices in said cover portion permitting flow of liquid therethrough, a spout overlying said cover portion to prevent access to the orifices therein, said orices facing the sides of said spout, a ball normally holding said valve in closed position, and an abutment on the inside of said cover portion forming a fulcrum for said ball, the inner ends of said orifices facing said abutment.

FRANK R. LUECK. 

